The Graduate Research Conference will not be held in 2025.
  • Wide shot of conference room filled with presentation posters
    The next university-wide Graduate Research Conference will be held on March 29, 2024.
  • Two students presenting on stage
    The conference will be held in the University Union.
  • Female student speaking to a group in a conference room
    Proposal submissions due February 19, 2024.
    ***Deadline extended to February 28, 2024***
  • Student presenting her information to a faculty member
    Students who submit an abstract agree to present if accepted.
  • Students listening intently to a spokesperson
    All accepted abstracts will be posted on the Graduate Studies website in March.

Graduate Research Conference

The WIU School of Graduate Studies will host the 11th annual university-wide Graduate Research Conference on March 29, 2024. All WIU graduate students interested in participating are encouraged to submit a proposal for a presentation or performance online by February 19, 2024. ***Deadline extended to February 28, 2024***

2024 Conference Materials
2024 Conference Award Winners
Podium Presentations

1st place - Nathaniel Hines, Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration - "Beyond the Field: Making the Case for Teenage Employment."

2nd place - Kaylin Vos, Music-Choral Conducting - "Monophonic Harmony: Analysis of Plainchant through the Harmonic Series."

3rd place - Leo Ofili, General Experimental Psychology - "An Exploration of Self-Determined Motivation, Diversity Climate, and Organizational Commitment."

Performance Presentations

1st place - Sara BenBella, Theatre-Acting - "Waiting for Gadot: A Purgatory of the Self."

2nd place - Wesley Tilford, Theatre-Acting - "Scab for Hire."

3rd place - Ethan Schuller, Music-Musicology - "Cultivating the Sound of New China: the 20th Century Evolution of the Erhu."

Poster Presentations

1st place - Sarah Obregon, Biology - "Habitat type Determines Patterns of Divergence and Migration among Chicago Raccoon Populations."

2nd place - Abdul Latif Penddah, Biology - "The Effectiveness of Cryptolepine and Xylopic Acid in The Treatment of Malaria in Diabetes-Malaria Co-Morbidity in Sprague-Dawley Rats."

3rd place - Chiemeka Emeribe, Biology - "Biodegradation of Chlorpyrifos Insecticide by Bacillus Cereus ST06 and Chryseobacterium sp 6024 Isolated from Agricultural Soil in Nigeria."